Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 3 of 21 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Seat Belts. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seats. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports0 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
21 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2002
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
DRIVER ATTEMTPED TO ENTER LEFT LANE ON INTERSTATE WHILE TRAVELING AT 65-67 MPH. WHILE ENTERING LANE, AND AT DIAGONAL, HAD TO HIT BARKES SUDDENLY DUE TO DRIVER IN CAR IMMEDIATELY AHEAD OF VEHICLE LEAVING RIGHT LANE WITHOUT NOTICE. HIT BARKES AND REAR RIGHT WHEEL "GAVE' AND CAR REAR END BEGAN TO FISHTAIL UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER HAD…
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DRIVER ATTEMTPED TO ENTER LEFT LANE ON INTERSTATE WHILE TRAVELING AT 65-67 MPH. WHILE ENTERING LANE, AND AT DIAGONAL, HAD TO HIT BARKES SUDDENLY DUE TO DRIVER IN CAR IMMEDIATELY AHEAD OF VEHICLE LEAVING RIGHT LANE WITHOUT NOTICE. HIT BARKES AND REAR RIGHT WHEEL "GAVE' AND CAR REAR END BEGAN TO FISHTAIL UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER HAD TO EXIT HIGHWAY TO CETER V-SHAPED MEDIAN. TRAVELING AT HIGH, THOUGH REDUCED RATE OF SPEED. CAR TRAVELED DOWN NEAR INCLINE INTO V OF MEDIAN CENTER. CAR HIT ASCENDING AREA OF MEDIANWITH FRONT (80%) LEFT (20%) PORTION OF VEHICLE. TORE OFF FOGS LIGHTS, BROKE LOWER AIR DAM AND TORE OFF LICENSE PLATE BRACKETT WHILE CRUMPLING LICENSE PLATE. LEFT FRONT TIRE HIT INCLINED AREA OF MEDIAN. VEHICLE FLIPPED ONTO ROOF. DESPITE IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUFFERED CONCUSSION, BODY LACERATIONS, CERVICAL FRACTURE.BUMPER TRAVEL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #766975
Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2002
Seat Belts
REAR SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE, RENDERING PASSENGER UNPROTECTED IN CASE OF A CRASH. DRIVER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT, LEAVING SEAT BELT VERY LOOSE, AND RENDERING DRIVER UNPROTECTED IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #766776
Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2002
Seat Belts
REAR PASSENGER SIDE OUTBOARD SEAT SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT SEATBELT ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK *JG
NHTSA ODI #8012217
Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THERE WAS A CLUNK TYPE NOISE AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER NOTICED VALVE SPRING WAS BROKEN. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED. *AK DEALER FOUND SPRING VALVE BROKE, CAUSING THE PISTON TO HIT THE VALVE AND BEND THE VALVE. MECHANIC STATES THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A RESULT OF A MANUFACTU…
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WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THERE WAS A CLUNK TYPE NOISE AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER NOTICED VALVE SPRING WAS BROKEN. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED. *AK DEALER FOUND SPRING VALVE BROKE, CAUSING THE PISTON TO HIT THE VALVE AND BEND THE VALVE. MECHANIC STATES THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A RESULT OF A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. SATURN FINALLY AGREED TO PAY A PORTION OF COST TO INSTALL NEW ENGINE. *TT
NHTSA ODI #8012110
Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON, MECHANIC STATES THE OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. NLM SATURN WILL NOT REPLACE OR FIX THE UNIT, ALSO, CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE A MUFFLER ON THE VEHICLE. *JG
NHTSA ODI #8008049
Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2002
Seats
CONSUMER STATES THE CHILD SEAT DOES NOT FIT SAFELY INTO THE VEHICLE, THIS STATEMENT CAME FROM A FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CONSUMER WAS ASKING FOR A REFUND OR FOR AN EQUAL EXCHANGE. *YH *JB
NHTSA ODI #564261
Mileage unknown · May 25, 2001
SeatsCrashInjury
DRIVER SEAT RECLINED UPON IMPACT DURING A REAR-END COLLISION, CAUSING INJURY TO DRIVER'S BACK AND NECK.*AK
NHTSA ODI #745898
Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2000
Tires
ALMOST WRECKED 3 TIMES. TREADS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN INVESTIGATION. NOT SAFE BY ANY STANDARDS!( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 195/50/R16 )
NHTSA ODI #729883
Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 1999
Electrical SystemCrash
WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED ANOTHER VEHICLE ABOUT TO HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. CONSUMER COULD NOT LOCATE HORN BUTTONS BECAUSE THEY WERE TO SMALL ON STERRING WHEEL AS ARESULT, VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #852897
Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 1999
Seat Belts
WITH NORMAL USE, THE REAR SEAT BELTS HAVE JAMMED UP 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 10 MONTHS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT EXTEND OR RETRACT RENDERING THEM INOPERABLE.
NHTSA ODI #714155
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1999 Saturn SC1 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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